Havana Brown

The Havana Brown is a rich, chocolate-brown cat, and it is one of the rarest breeds in the world. It was developed in Britain in the 1950s by crossing Siamese with black domestic cats that carried the chocolate gene, and its name is said to be for the color of a fine Havana cigar, or for the Havana rabbit.

The coat is all one color: a warm, reddish-brown, like polished mahogany, with a short, smooth, glossy texture. Even the whiskers are brown, which is unique among cats, and the nose and paw pads are a rosy brown. The result is a deeply colored, glowing cat.

The eyes are a vivid green, set in a head that has a distinctive shape. The muzzle is narrow but has a definite break, a kind of squared-off tip, called the stamped muzzle, and the ears are large and slightly forward. The body is medium and muscular, with long legs.

The personality is gentle, intelligent and curious. A Havana Brown is known for using its paws. It reaches out to touch, tap and investigate everything, and it will often pat your face with a soft paw as if to say hello. It likes to be involved, and it keeps its people close.

It is also a quiet cat. The Havana has a soft voice, and it prefers to communicate with a chirp or a gaze. It loves a good game of fetch or a puzzle, and it gets on well with children and other pets. It does not like to be left alone for long.

Care is simple. The short coat needs only a weekly stroke. Health notes include a tendency to urinary problems and some inherited conditions, so choose a breeder who screens. With a rare breed, patience is also needed to find one. A well-kept Havana can live fifteen years or more.